Record $91K in Hope Fund gifts tackles ‘major crisis‘

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Updated: February 15, 2012 8:08AM

Supporters of Help Them to Hope, the Lake County News-Sun’s annual holiday appeal, gave a record $91,317.88 in 2011 — almost $37,000 more than in 2010 and nearly $7,000 more than the previous record, set in 2000, when the fund tallied $84,410.53.

“We owe one huge, incredible thank you to the people of Lake County,” said Rich Ribando, former News-Sun publisher and president of the Help Them to Hope Executive Board. “They have a heart, obviously they have a heart, and they see people are down and out.”

After proceeds from the 2012 collection are divided between seven local charities later this month, Help Them to Hope will have raised and disbursed more than $2.32 million to Lake County residents in need. Much of the money goes for basic necessities — food, shelter and clothing.

Diane Thackston, executive director of COOL, Christian Outreach of Lutherans, one of the oldest HTTH recipient agencies, isn’t surprised by the outpouring. It’s a recognition, she said, that “we are in a major crisis.”

“I believe everyone is pretty well aware of the economic problems in this country,” Thackston said. “The message has gotten out that the social services are hurting. They have less to give.”

Help Them to Hope has working class roots. It began more than 50 years ago when a group of News-Sun pressmen decided to use the crumpled cash left in their coffee fund to buy food and holiday presents for a needy family. Word about the good deed spread and the collection was opened to the public in 1959.

The HTTH board carefully selects agencies that have low administrative overhead and stipulates that all donations must go directly to aid people in need in Lake County. All operating costs are absorbed by the newspaper and its HTTH partner, NorStates Bank.

The fund, which publicizes all donations in print editions of the Lake County News-Sun and on the campaign’s Web site, has become a cherished memorial for many donor groups and individuals.

The Illinois Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 150, which is based in Libertyville, makes a donation from its general fund each year in memory of deceased members.

“We work here in Lake County, we earn our wages in Lake County and we want to give back to Lake County,” said Don Carlson, business manager. “Help Them to Hope helps us do that. It’s a very worthwhile endeavor.”

The holiday campaign accepts donations year-round, but kicks into gear Thanksgiving through the second week of January.

“If you think you missed giving, you didn’t,” said Rosemary Alfredson, longtime News-Sun staffer and HTTH board secretary.

Contributions made during the off-season will be published in an early donor list next November at the beginning of the 2012-13 HTTH season.

“We hope we can say we broke a record next year, too,” Alfredson said.

“We don’t solicit a thing,” Ribando said. “We never make a phone call. We don’t knock on doors. We keep doing this because of the faith we have in the people of Lake County.

“We will keep doing it as long as they are willing to give.”